WBCC Newsmail 282, Volume 7, January 5, 2002
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Composed with help from members of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC),
and weekly published by Martin Peeters, Netherlands, Focal Point of the WBCC
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Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,

I hope you really enjoy reading this weeks WBCC Newsmail !!

1. New WBCC members......by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

We have 2 new WBCC member. Let me introduce them to you:

Name: Ron LaSpisa (WBCC member #235), USAE-mail
Age: 58
Profession: University Professor
Hobby: World coins and tokens including many Bi- and/or Tri-metallics
Goal: Promote bi-metallic $5 coin for USA
How did I know about the WBCC: Coin club friend one year ago

In 3 weeks time the WBCC will attend, like last year, the World Money Fair
in Basel, held from February 1 to 3. This is the first pre-report about this
event. The World Money Fair in Basel is the biggest of its kind in the world.
At least 30 Minthouses will be present, and this year the South African Mint
is the Guest of Honors with a special booth. The WBCC will attend for 3 days
the WMF with 2 persons; Frans Dubois and Martin Peeters. The WBCC will have
its own booth which is sponcored by The Portuguese Mint and Schuler Presses.
In Next weeks edition of the WBCC Newsmail more news about the World Money
Fair.

4. Bi-metallic 5 Hryvnias 2001 of Ukraine...by Manuel Gonzalez

In the Webpage of the National Bank of Ukraine
(http://www.bank.gov.ua/ENGL/ section Banknotes and coins/Jubilee and
commemorative coins/Bimetal non-precious metals) one can read about a new
Bi-metallic 5 Hryvnias 2001 of Ukraine:
--Quote
Jubilee Coin "10 Years of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" In circulation since
November, 29, 2001. Jubilee coin of 5 Hryvnias denomination is dedicated to
10 Years of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On the coin obverse within the internal ring and upon the glass background
the small State Emblem of Ukraine is depicted and the crossed batons
(symbols of colonel's power in Cossak army) within the frame of oak garland,
as well as 2001, the coin mintage year and the Mint logo of the National
Bank of Ukraine. Within the external ring there are circular inscriptions:
???????, 5 ???????.

On the coin reverse within the internal ring there is a depiction of an
equal-armed cross with broadened ends inframed with laurel wreath; in the
centre of cross there is a medallion with a picture of small State Emblem of
Ukraine; in external ring there are circular inscriptions: ??????? ????
???????, 10 ?????.
--Unquote

5. Bi-metallic 5 Maloti from Lesotho...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

This week I received a new Bi-metallic from Lesotho (Africa). It is a 5
Maloti dated 1995 and commemorates 50 year United Nations. For it very
surpising the excistance of this Bi-metallic piece. Who knows more about
this piece, like how much are struck. A pictire of this 5 Malotti can be
seen in the WBCC Webpage: New Releases

6. Bi-metallic Euros from Greece.............by Paul Baker, UK

The list currently near the end of the page:
EUROS
is the WBCC's image list of Bi-metallic Euro coins expected to appear in early
2002. This list was last updated in February 2001, so it really is just what
was EXPECTED to appear and NOT what has appeared in circulation. A quick
look at this list shows how several dates of each of the Bi-metallic coins
are expected for each of several different countries. It was believed at
that time that all the Greek Euro coins to appear in 2002 would be dated
just 2002. So that would mean just two different Bi-metallic Euro coins
would exist for Greece, at least until the end of 2002. Well it does seem
that that first piece of information was correctly determined all that time
ago i.e. it seems quite certain now that all Greek coins of the Euro
denominations are dated 2002. However information I have from a contact in
Greece, is that already there are actually FOUR Bi-metallic Euro coins to
collect for Greece. (My contact is Apostolidis Christos who has a "Euro
Report" page on his website. The address for his website is
http://www.accoinsandbanknotes.com .) All four are date 2002, additionally
some of the 1 Euro coins and some of the 2 Euro coins for Greece have a
small incuse letter "S" on the five-pointed star in-between the 2nd and 3rd
digits of the date. Of the other denominations of Greek Euro coins:- the 1,
2, 5, 10 and 50 Eurocent coins can be found with or without an incuse "F" on
one of the stars on the "country side" and the 20 Eurocent coins can be
found with or without an incuse "E" on one of the stars on the "country
side".

An educated guess would be that these letters relate to where the coins
have been made. Perhaps the "S" is for Italy, as the letter "S" is the
serial number prefix letter on the Euro banknotes issued in Italy. The
letters "E" and "F" are not allocated as prefix letters for the Euro
banknotes, just maybe these will refer to countries outside the EU. It is
known that non-EU countries have been involved with the production of this
new coinage.

7. Bi-metallic Euros from Finland…by Jack Hepler, USA

Designer, Raimo Heino, elected to use flora or plants on his design of
the Bi-metallic Finnish 2 Euro. The design features cloudberries and
cloudberry flowers. The 1 Euro Bi-metallic coin has incorporated
flying swans into the design. This coin was designed by Pertti Makinen.
The smaller denominations of the Euro cents will have a heraldic lion.
Finland will not be circulating the 1 and 2 Eurocent pieces. Finns
do not bother with the Finnish coin of equivalent value, the 10 Penni
piece. Finland will also be distributing fewer coins and notes than
other countries, relative to its size, because it already has the lowest
amount of cash in circulation, relative to GDP, than any other European
country. That is because Finns already pay for so much with plastic cards
and through the Giro system.

A tree, drawn by artist Joaquim Jiminez, appears on these Bi-metallic coins,
symbolizing life, continuity and growth. It is contained in a hexagon and is
surrounded by the motto of the Republic. This is the design of the Euros of
which country?
a. France
b. Germany
c. Luxembourg
d. Belgium
Please send your answer to me: Jack Hepler

Answer to Bi-metallic Quiz Game question #281.
Luc Luycx, a professional coin designer won the international competition
for the design of the common side of the Bi-metallic Euro. Luc Luycx
chose abstract design as the theme. In his design, he presented growing
European unification. The countries of the economic union are shown on
the coins and 12 stars represent those countries converting to the common
currency. His initials, LL may be seen on the one and two Euro coins.
In which country’s mint is Luc Luycx employed?
a. Germany
b. France
c. Luxembourg
d. Belgium
Answer to Question #281 is "d" Belgium.
Summary of answers to Quiz Game Question #280; 100% correct. Six
players. You may be able to see the answer to many future questions in
earlier Newsmail issues.